Calendar committee recommends longer winter break after staff survey; final vote Dec. 15

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District calendar committee recommended a two-year cycle that keeps a longer winter break after reporting that a majority of staff preferred that schedule, district officials said Monday.

Director of Employee Services Dr. Barb Buffington told the board that 652 staff members responded to the 2026–27 calendar survey and 644 to the 2027–28 survey, and that “58% of staff selected option 1 for both years, the option with a longer winter break.” The presentation was informational; the board is scheduled to vote on the committee’s recommendation at its Dec. 15 meeting.

Why it matters: a longer winter break pushes the school year’s end later in June, a tradeoff the committee balanced against staff wellness, classroom-preparation time and family planning. The committee removed half-day placeholders in August and June and instead proposed a paid full workday in August — but, after staff feedback, added flexibility so teachers may either take the full workday or split it into half-day options in August and June.

The committee emphasized an outreach and translation plan. Shannon Viadolid, director of public relations, said calendars and materials will be translated into Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin and Russian and posted as downloadable PDFs on the district website once the board approves the dates.

Board members urged extra family outreach. Several trustees asked the administration to add start and end times for elementary, middle and high schools on published calendars and to include a short family survey as part of the district’s annual communications to capture community preferences distinct from staff responses.

Next steps: The calendar committee recommended Option 1 for approval at the Dec. 15 meeting. The presentation was informational on Dec. 1; the board will take final action later this month.